There we go.
So talking about networking, that
was the conversation before I started recording.
And there's so many ways.
There's live events.
We were talking about Toastmasters,
and we were talking about online networking.
What has been your experience in networking?
What have you learned?
Especially having run for city council, I'm sure that,
and making it, I'm sure that you did a lot of networking,
right?
Yeah, there was a lot of networking, a lot of networking.
I will tell you, my favorite type of networking is,
I would say, it involves a group of people.
It's a small group, like a small group of people,
not a large group, a small group of people,
where you can really have conversation.
You can really engage in really active listening,
more so than the large.
One-on-one is even better.
And then the other kind of introduction to networking
is, I like it when, my favorite kind is actually spontaneous,
when you just pick up a conversation.
That's like actually my favorite,
but I know a lot of people are not, they can't do that.
They're not maybe, that's not a skill
that they have where they can just start talking
to strangers out of the blue.
That's one of them.
The other one is if, I don't always like,
I like introductions, but I'm not
a big fan of the introduction, unless I
know the relationship of the person with the person
that they're introducing me to.
The reason being is because sometimes you
have to overcome the other person's
personality in the network.
Because let's say, for instance, I
introduced you to somebody, maybe thinking you
would be in the conversation.
This person is a, well, if Natalie likes her,
and this, that, and the other, then she
has something to offer, which is all true.
But sometimes that is, it can be like a veil in order
that you have to get through in order to really connect
with the person.
So I like to do a little bit of more,
I got a little, if someone's introducing me to someone,
I like to have a little bit more research,
a little bit more understanding of that.
But other than that, yeah, spontaneous, one-on-one.
But the small groups, and the reason why I like the small.
What do you call small?
How many people do you like?
You know what?
I would say at the max, ooh, at the max 10.
I would say at the max 10.
And I like those small.
And I can do more than 10.
It depends on the people.
But I like at the max 10, because the other part
of that networking piece, you can get a lot of feedback
in one spot.
You get a lot of feedback, you get a lot of connections
in one spot versus, you know, and don't get.
Did you do like Toastmasters, or like BNI,
or like Women's Networking?
I did Toastmasters.
I have done network marketing before when I was in.
I used to sell insurance a long, long time ago.
I used to sell insurance.
I also have been, I used to be a Mary Kay consultant,
did very good in Mary Kay.
And that's all about networking, and who you know,
and selling your product, and those types of things.
And then I used to be really big in,
I used to sell electronics for people's house,
high-end stereo equipment.
Wow, you've tried a lot of different things.
That's amazing.
Yeah, and that was good, too.
The conversation came up because we're wanting
to get Bev in front of people.
So she was thinking about Toastmasters.
And I said kind of the same thing for you.
I said, check out the different Toastmasters.
They'll have a different flavor.
Some that'll be very small and intimate.
Some will be large.
Some will be just like all businessmen.
Some will be more mixed.
Some meet at morning, noon, night.
And I said, the advantage of the small
is you get a lot of practice speaking,
and you get to know people.
The advantage of big, you have an introduction
to a larger number of people.
You speak much less.
Exactly.
So we were just, and then I was sharing,
and it's exactly what you said, one-on-ones, coffee chats,
one-on-ones are the most powerful.
And I'm in awe of how intimate you can get online,
how deeply you can build.
And I have been very successful with scheduling 15.
15 minute, you know, conversations, 15 minute connect
calls. And because it's enough time to get to know each other.
And if it's just jiving, and you got more time often will stay on
longer than the 15. If we don't have time, often we'll
reschedule, but it's enough for you to listen to each other and
kind of build that connection. And, you know, frankly, Bev, I
was surprised those things add up, you know, now, obviously, I
been at this since 2012. But I, I have a bitly, which is not I
have many links, but I have a bitly, which is a short code
called 15 minute connect call. And Bentley keeps track of how
many people click on that link. I've had 500 people click on
that link. So those 15 minute calls like they add up and you
don't even realize because they just don't take a lot of time,
but they're very special. And once you've started that
connection, of course, they could be on your sub stack and
reading your article. So you'll grow your sub stack list. And if
there's something deeper, you can send them a link to learn
about Colby. So it's a springboard. So I think if it
comes to speed, your two fastest things are going to be filling a
micro event and doing 15 minute connect calls.
I think that's that's where that's where the speed is. I
know you're either dry. Well, go ahead.
Oh, no, I would say something really interesting. So I had a
friend that was looking for a job. She recently got her PhD,
she was looking for a job. And what she ended up she said, you
know what, I don't want to do this this way, because it's like
a rat race. So she literally turned her her job search into a
research project. And she just started scheduling, she started
scheduling these appointments, and then other people would
recommend her. And so now she's up to, I think, 64 different and
unique relationships that she built. And they have gone to her
other opportunities. And that's not necessarily nothing around
building a business. But if she if she took that, because of the
way that she's done that, and the relationship she made, she
could turn around really quick. That's not what she wants to do.
But that networking, and again, that one on one has really
garnered her a lot of information that she would not
have had had it not been for. Yeah. So that's Yeah.
And, and the and the biggest lesson I've learned on on one
on ones and networking is, is to give first is to serve to find
something they need that can connect them to somebody
connected with a resource help them solve something. And I
think the the biggest time I learned that lesson that
absolutely, it was so transformational is and this is
going back, you know, a couple of decades, but there was a man
Jim Bella, Sarah that I knew he was a big networker in my area.
I mean, he'd been an amway diamond, and then he'd gone into
some more. And so he was he was well known. And I had a coffee
chat with him. I don't remember how or why that got set up. But
he had a vision to start a business networking, not a
networking company. I mean, where business people come
together and network and serve one another. And the Holy
Spirit told me serve this vision, just serve it. And so I
told him I would help him. And I actually helped him start my
myself and SV on by on another girlfriend that was involved.
This was called successful thinkers. I don't even remember
I think we opened up six or eight chapters, you know, all
the way Southern California, Northern California, and just go
and network and help build. And you know, at that time, I was
the founder of the nutritional network marketing company, I
never told anybody what I did. Nobody had a clue what I did. I
was like a mystery woman, I was leader, I was introducing
people, I was starting chapters, and I was just serving. And
honestly, that went on probably almost a year, nobody knew what
I did. And then it came near a holiday, and we had a big event
that we were doing, we were bringing in speakers, we had
doctors and athletes and everything. And we booked the
hotel. And we had it during the day, but we didn't we weren't
going to do a night event, but we had the hotel. And my office
manager had she said, Why don't you approach Jim? And why don't
you do a combo? impacts was the name of my company.
a successful thinkers networking event, powered by Delta E,
that's the pink drinks at one of our products. And I approached
him with it. And he said, That sounds fabulous. And we had the
most amazing networking and we had a fountain that was serving
the Delta E. Do you know what came out of that event? I mean,
we brought on team like worked corporately together that was
just expansive. So many distributors, so many customers,
but it just came from serve first, you know, and so I try
when I do the the secret of networking, in my opinion, is I
do a lot more listening and asking questions than talking.
And what happens is if it's a 15 minute, at least 10 of the
minutes, I'm totally focused off in 12 of the minutes on them,
and they'll be Whoa, whoa, whoa, I want to know about you. But at
that point, there's so much relational equity. And, and
sometimes I used to do that when I had the network marketing, I
might have an hour meeting, and I would spend 50 50 on them, and
then like 10 on what I did. And that was always very powerful.
So too often, if we just come on too fast and try to sell, sell,
sell, you know, that doesn't doesn't work as well. So anyway,
that's a that's a great conversation. I know both of you
are driving so I'm not gonna I'm not gonna keep you too long.
Love connecting love this conversation. Always great to
see you, Natalie. Always great to see you, Bev. I'm going to
see you tomorrow, Bev. And I believe that this is an
important season for you. I think I think the blessings that
are going to come through networking are so big for your
next season. I think you know, I have a birthday salsa party, my
birthday this weekend. And I think about the different groups
of people that I've invited to come, I've got a DJ, and it's
just going to be a lot of fun. But I think about the
relationships, and I'm thinking in particular of a couple people
that are coming to my birthday, that stem back those 20 years
ago to successful thinkers that are still dear, dear, dear
friends. One of them, Robert was the hugest. He basically
blew up social media building successful thinkers. He's
brilliant on tech, and he's coming. And another one that
came through that and Nita, she helped me get my book launch.
She did so much with my book launch. So you never know even
20 years later what these relationships, you know, I think
relationships are the currency of life. And so I want you to
think long term, that every single relationship, that's a
that's a gift from God that will play out in so many different
ways that you would never expect. So for all of you
listening, I am all in favor of networking. There's so many ways
to do it. There's online you could do, you could do Toast
Masters, if you're wanting to get a skill, there's things
like, you know, BNI, and other business networking type
breakfasts, lunches, evening meetings. And so often even
taking classes and things that you're interested in, and you
network and meet people during the breaks, going to
conferences, and I always like kind of, you know, two birds in
one stone, I don't kill birds, but you get the gist that you're
learning something, you're in an environment that's stimulating
you, and in the process, you meet people. And, you know, even
for fun with me, it's salsa dancing, it's amazing the people
I meet salsa dancing. So, you know, I think life is all about
connection. So Bev, I think this is a new season in your life.
And I think networking is going to be very exciting, both
online and offline. And look forward to talking to you
tomorrow, getting your micro events moving. And Natalie, it
was just amazing to meet you in person. Just love you as well.
You as well.
Loved it. Have to do again soon. All right, everyone. We'll talk
same time, same place next week. Blessings.
Thanks. Bye.